Movable bridge laying device

ABSTRACT

A bridge laying device which includes a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, and a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use while the front end of the bridge is provided with supports adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged.

United States Patent 1 1 Wagner [111 3,845,514 [451 Nov. 5, 1974 MOVABLE BRIDGE LAYING DEVICE [75] lnventor: Gerhard Wagner,

Mainz-Lerchenberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Klockner-Humboldt Deutz Aktiengesellschait, Koln-Deutz, Germany 22 Filed: Nov. 10,1972

[21] Appl. No.: 305,345

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 2,687,617 8/1954 Newell 14/1 X 3,208,086 9/1965 Gillois 14/] 3,492,683 2/1970 Wagner l4/1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 424,843 5/1967 Switzcrlandl 14/1 1,947,292 3/1970 Germany 14/1 1,938,940 2/1971 Germany 14/1 1,926,775 12/1970 ,Germuny 14/1 Primary Examiner-Nile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker [5 7 ABSTRACT A bridge laying device which includes a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, and a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use while the front end of the bridge is provided with supports adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged.

20 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHUV SIQM 3,845,516

SHEET 50F 8 PMENIEUW 519M 3.

saw an; s 845514 be possible to bridge of ground.

1 MOVABLE BRIDGE LAYING DEVICE The present invention relates to a bridge laying device which comprises a vehicle, a bridge supported thereby and a laying device by means of which the bridge is adapted to advance and to be laid into its position of use. For laying bridges of considerably greater length than the vehicle, various suggestions have become known. Among others it has been proposed to connect the sections of a two-sectional bridge pivotally to each other in such a way that during the transport they rest in flat condition on the vehicle and by unfolding are converted into a bridge beam proper.

According to another suggestion, the bridge sections arranged one on top of the other on the laying device of the vehicle are after a displacement in opposite direction and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle composed to a bridge beam proper. With devices of this type it was possible to lay bridges of up to a length of approximately 30 meters.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a movable bridge laying device by means of which it will wider waterways and depressions This object and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

FIG. 1 illustrates one half of the front view of a bridge support according to the invention on the outside adjacent the roadways of the bridge, and also shows the crossbeam of the bridge support.

FIG. 2 isa side view of the bridge support of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the support placed on the ground and shows in dot-dash lines the operation for lifting the foot plate off the ground.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates in side view the supporting plate of the laying shield with the anchor plate connected thereto.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically illustrates in side view the anchor plate pressed into the bank on the laying side.

FIG. 6 illustrates in a diagrammatic side view the connection of the bridge end on the side of the bank to the anchor plate.

FIG. 7 shows the anchored bridge end according to FIG. 6 in top view.

FIGS. 8-13 illustrate the laying operation of a bridge with a bridge support arranged at the front end on the outside adjacent the roadways.

FIGS. 14-17 illustrate the connection of a bridge section to a laid bridge on supports.

FIG. 18 illustrates partly in front view the front bridge end with bridge supports arranged below the bridge laying device to move over the already prepared part of the bridge and by means of the further bridge laying device to construct a further bridge portion adjacent to the already finished bridge portion. The second portion or section of the bridge can be deposited on the oppositely located bank or, if the length is still not sufficient, may likewise be provided with pivotable supports so that a third bridge section and. if necessary, further bridge sections can be connected to the laid bridge sections until the oppositely located bank has been reached.

For purposes of increasing the stability and thereby the safety of the built bridge portion against tilting, the supports are at the front end of the bridge arranged on the outside adjacent the bridge beams serving as tracks or roadways.

For facilitating the assembly of a further bridge section to the previously laid end of the bridge, a transverse beam is arranged below the bridge roadway for receiving and supporting additional bridge sections. The transverse beam is pivotally connected to the bridge end in such a way that at different angular inclinations of the bridge the bridge end will always rest over its full length on the transverse beam. For structurally simplifying the bridge sections and in order possibly to create bridge sections of the same size, it is expedient to mount the supports on the transverse beam. In this way the supports form together with the transverse beam a structural unit which is detachably connected to the front end of the bridge. Thus it will be possible to employ identical bridge sections without the supporting unit for overcoming small obstacles or selectively with the aid of the supporting unit for bridging larger obstacles. Furthermore, the detachable connection of the supporting unit has the advantage that after disconnecting the supporting unit from the laid bridge section, the individual bridge sections can be received for the picking up of the bridge sections from the other bank.

The arrangements of the supports outside the bridge roadway has the advantage that the supports can be designed as simple tubular supports which are guided by guiding tubes or pipes arranged in particular on the bridge beams and the transverse beam. Moreover, this arrangement of the supports makes possible a laying of the bridge as a fixed bridge over shallow water with a low height of the supports which means that the distance between the transverse beam and the foot plates resting on the ground can be selected very small. In order to obtain as low a ground pressure as possible for the supportint tubes placed on the ground, and furthermore in orderto prevent the supporting tubes from sinking into the ground under the load of the bridge, the supporting tubes have their lower ends provided with articulated, especially cardanically arranged foot 7 foot plates from the ground at small forces, cables are connected to the foot plates outside the joints, and these cables extend to a braked winding-up roller or winch which is arranged in the transverse beam. In this way, there exists the possibility by braking the cable and lifting the supporting tube to rear loose one side of the foot plate from the ground.

The cables connected to the foot plates serve at the same time for lowering the supporting tubes. in order to be able to control the lowering of the supporting tubes by means of the cables, the winding-up roller acts in winding off direction of the cable as cable brake the winding-off speed of which is adapted to be hydraulically controlled by a cylinder linked to the winding-up roller.

To permit a precise horizontal adjustment of the laid bridge section and above all to permit a later compensation for a yielding of the ground under load, the supports are advantageously additionally equipped with hydraulic cylinders. One end of the cylinders is connected to the guiding tube while the other end of the cylinders engages a supporting ring which is axially spaced from and arranged below the guiding tubes and surrounds the supporting tubes. For aligning the advanced bridge sections, the front bridge end is by the hydraulic lifting cylinders and the supporting rings on the supporting tubes lifted or lowered by a special device in the manner of a climbing operation. For the climbing operation of the front bridge end, hydraulically operable latching bolts are provided on the outside of the guiding tube and supporting ring. These latching bolts engage recesses of a perforated strip or the like which extends over the entire length of the supporting tube. The latching bolts are for the climbing operation of the front bridge end so coupled to each other by a sequence control that when lifting the bridge end, the latching bolts of the supporting ring snap into one of the recesses in the supporting tube, and the latching bolts of the guiding tube disengage the supporting tube. By moving the lifting cylinder inwardly and outwardly, the bridge end can be lifted or lowered relative to the supporting tubes.

The supporting unit is by means of pivotable cylinders pivotally connected to the bottom side of the transverse beam, and the roadway is additionally braced to the front end of the bridge. Simultaneously, these pivotable cylinders are also intended to place the supports of the advanced bridge section vertically. The vertical placement of the supports may be effected either manually or automatically by a levelling device which independently of the angle of inclination of the advanced bridge section holds the supports vertically and prevents the supports when immered in the water having an angular current or flow from being floated off.

The supply of the pressure medium for the lifting cylinders arranged within the supporting unit is advantageously effected by a hydraulic supply unit arranged in the transverse beam. The supply unit comprises primarily a hydraulic pump with an electric motor connected thereto which latter receives its supply of energy through a cable connected to the bridge laying vehicle. In this cable there are advantageously also contained the conductors or lines for the electromagnetic control valves of the lifting cylinder.

Inasmuch as the supports on the advanced bridge section cannot receive any forces in the longitudinal direction of the bridge, it is necessary that that end of a laid bridge section which is adjacent to the bank be anchored to the bank. To this end, the front pivotal supporting plate of the laying vehicle has connected thereto an anchor plate which is provided with outwardly protruding safety nails. The laying shield presses by means of the supporting plate the anchor plate into the ground and subsequently deposits that bridge end which is adjacent to the bank onto the bottom side of the anchor plate. The anchor plate has special connecting means by means of which the bridge end adjacent the bank is bolted down. The safety nails are easily exchangeably arranged on the anchor plate and thus may as to their property and length be adapted to the underground.

The device having the above described features is not limited to a certain type of parlty heretofore known bridge laying devices, However, a device is preferred which for purposes of laying and picking up the bridge is pivotable about a horizontal shaft on the vehicle. By means of such a device, following the advancing of the bridge, first the front end with the support is deposited and subsequently that end of the bridge which is adjacent the vehicle is placed on the ground. Such a laying device is for longer bridge lengths preferably designed with a telescopically movable beam, if desired, of such a length that the front end of the beam can be directly supported by the oppositely located bank. Such supported beam on which the bridge is advanced on rollers to its position of use, relieves the vehicle over a freely advanced beam from a considerable portion of the tilting moment acting upon the vehicle. In this way it will be possible to lay relatively long bridges with a great load supporting ability which, for instance, are arranged in two sections when occupying their transporting position and which after relative displacement of the sections in opposite direction with regard to each other are on the laying device composed to a unitary bridge section.

According to a further development of the invention, the front telescopic beam of such bridge laying device is provided with a downwardly pivotable support which is adapted to be placed upon the ground similar to the bridge according to the invention. In this way the laying of a bridge composed of two or more sections will enjoy the same advantages with regard to a relief of the vehicle from tilting moments and with regard to the possibility to lay bridge sections of great length.

The support arranged at the front end of the telescopic beam of the bridge laying device is advantageously in outwardly pivoted position, i. e., in downwardly hanging position, telescopically movable outwardly and is adapted when being deposited on the ground to be arrested. The arresting of the telescopic support advantageously may be effected by means of a frictional locking mechanism.

Linked to the supports is a cable line by means of which the outward and inward movements of the telescopic supports are controlled. The cable line is preferably connected to the frictional locking mechanism. This has the advantage that simultaneously with the cable line the arresting of the frictional locking mechanism is undone so that the supports can be moved inwardly.

To assure that the front telescopic beam of the laying device can be fully moved inwardly in spite of the builton support, the bottom side of the front telescopic beam is provided with a recess for receiving the pushed together support.

With a laying device having telescopically movable laying means there exists the possibility of arranging the supports of the bridge at the front end below the bridge roadway and so to design the supports that they can be pivoted downwardly. For purposes of adapting the laid bridge section to the respective necessary supporting height,'it is expedient to design the supports telescopically movably in the manner of the supports of the laying device. For this reason, the supports are composed of a plurality of supporting tubes, preferably three supporting tubes, telescopically placed one into the other.

In order to assure that the front bridge end is relatively rigidly mounted on the supports, the supporting tubes have a bearing surface on which the front end of each bridge beam rests with its entire width. To allow the bridge to be used with or without support, it is expedient that the supporting surface together with the supports is detachably connected to the bridge; The supporting surface is furthermore so designed that the end of an additional bridge section to be built on can be deposited on the supporting surface.

Within the framework of the invention it is furthermore suggested that the individual supporting tubes are adapted to be locked relative to each other by mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic means. However, in order to be able at as low costs as possible to effect the locking of the individual supporting tubes from the laying vehicle, it is advantageous according to the invention to have the upper supporting tube with the lower supporting tube arrestable by a mechanical locking mechanism and to have the intermediate supporting tube together with the lower supporting tube arrestable by a hydraulic locking mechanism.

According to the invention, the mechanical locking mechanism consists of two pawls arranged at the upper end of the intermediatesupporint tibe, the pawls engaging protrusions of a perforated strip extending over the length of the upper supportint tube.

Inasmuch as the advance support cannot be reached during the lowering of a bridge from the bank, it is necessary that all movements of the support can be controlled from the vehicle. For this reason there is, for instance, for the mechanical locking of the upper supporting tube with the lower supporting tube, provided a cable line which extends along the laying vehicle from the locking bolt to a winch. For arresting the intermedi ate supporting tube relative to the upper supporting tube, the pawls are by spring force pushed into the respective protrusions of the perforated strip of the upper supporting tube. The unlocking from the vehicle is effected by a wedge operable by a cable line.

According to the invention, the hydraulic locking mechanism between the lower supporting tube and the intermediate supporting tube comprises a hydraulic cylinder which is located within these supporting tubes and which through conduits is connected to a supply unit arranged in the bridge beam. The movements of the hydraulic cylinder are controlled from the vehicle through electric lines.

Similar to the support of the telescopic beam, a foot plate is pivotally connected to the lower supporting tube of the bridge support. By means of this foot plate,

the bridge support is adapted to be placed on the ground. The placing of the foot plates on the ground, after the bridge section has been advanced and the pivoting of the bridge support, is effected in such a way that after relieving or loosening the cable line, the intermediate supporting tubeand the lower supporting tube are as a unit lowered by their own weight from the upper supporting tube on the cable until the foot plate rests on the ground. if, however, the respective waterway has such a depth that after the entire. length of the intermediate supporting tube has been moved out from the upper supporting tube, the foot plate still does not hit the ground, the intermediate supporting tube is locked to the upper supporting tube and subsequently, by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder, the lower supporting tube is moved out of the intermediate supporting tube until the foot plate rests on the ground of the waterway. Subsequently by further actuating the by draulic cylinder, the laid bridge section is precisely aligned in horizontal direction, and the hydraulic cylinder is locked. In order to make sure that the bridge supports will be able in addition to absorbing the load of the bridge, also to absorb lateral forces, such as wind forces, forces generated by the water current, and the forces resulting from the lateral inclination of the bridge, the individual supports are below each bridge beam interconnected by special bend-resistant struts.

When the laying vehicle drives over land, the bridge support is removed from the front end of the bridge and is loaded onto a special vehicle. in order to assure that Y the bridge supports can be taken apart for the transport of the vehicle, it is expedient that the struts are detachably connected to the supports.

With a bridge laying device having a laying mechanism adapted to be moved outwardly, it is necessary that during the movement of the bridge the bridge support be held above the laying device and is pivoted downwardly only in the end position of the bridge. According to the invention, a cable line is provided for this purpose which is connected to the bridge support and passed to a winch arranged on the laying vehicle. This winch is advantageously formed by a hydraulically operable cable line system which is coupled with the bridge advance and during the advance of the coupled with the bridge advance and during the advance of the bridge holds the bridge support above the laying device. Only in the end position of the bridge, will the bridge support be pivoted downwardly by further actuating the hydraulic cable line mechanism.

If the obstacle to be bridged has such a length that the remaining distance between the front end of the already laid bridge section and the other bank is less than half the length of a bridge section, the connection of a complete bridge section would not be expedient. Therefore, within the framework of the invention, there exists the possibility of bridging such obstacle by employing only a portion of the bridge for making up the missing distance between the front end of the laid bridge section to the other bank for connection to the already laid bridge section. In order to assure that a vehicle can drive on the bridge from the other bank without additional ramp, it is necessary to couple one bridge portion with its coupling side to the front end of the laid bridge section. in order to be able to place the bridge portion with the coupling side upon the supporta ing surface of the bridge support, an intermediate member is necessary. This intermediate member is, prior to the laying of the bridge portion, connected to the coupling side and at the roadway top side has an extension for resting on the supporting surface and is also provided with means so that it can be secured on the supporting surface of the laid bridge section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof in particular, a supporting unit is arranged at the front end 1 of a bridge formed by two bridge sections. The supporting unit substantially comprises two supports 2 and a transverse beam 3. The transverse beam 3 serves as supporting beam for the front end 1 of the bridge and at its ends outside the roadway has two vertically directed guiding tubes 4 in which the supports 2 are guided. For purposes of supporting the front end 1 composed of two bridge beams 5, the transverse beam 3 has an upwardly arched crowned supporting surface 6. The supporting unit formed by the supports and the transverse beam is pivotally connected to the front end 1 of the bridge. For locking the supporting unit to the front end 1, bolts 7 are provided on the lateral webs of the bridge beams, said bolts 7 engaging plates or ears 8 of the transverse beam 3. These connecting elements have so much play with regard to each other that even when the bridge beams cross each other, after completed laying of the bridge section, the front end 1 of the bridge will rest on the transverse beam 3 over its full width. lnasmuch as the bridge is to be laid in conformity with the requirements with or without support, the entire supporting unit can be removed by detaching the plates 8 from the front end 1. Separate pivot cylinders 9 linked to the transverse beam 3 underneath the bridge roadway and to the bridge beams 5 hold the bridge supports vertically during the laying operation and reinforce during and after the laying operation the front end 1 by means of the supporting unit. The connecting spot between the pivot cylinders 9 and the bridge beams 5 is detachably designed in order to permit the removal of the supporting unit by displacement at the lower bolt, and to be able to remove the pivot cylinder 9 from the bridge beam 5. Foot plates 11 are, by means of cross joints l0, pivotally connected tothe lower end of the supports 2. The supports 2 are placed on the ground by means of foot plates 11. The size of these foot plates is so dimensioned that when the bridge is under load, the foot plates 11 when placed on soft ground cannot sink into the ground to any material extent.

Mounted on the supporting tubes 4 is a device by means of which the front bridge end 1 can be lifted, lowered and locked relative to the supports 2 placed on the ground. To this end, the device comprises a supporting ring 12 which axially below the guiding tubes 4 surrounds the supports. The said device furthermore comprises two lifting cylinders 13 which connect the supporting ring 12 to the guiding tube 4, and finally also comprises the locking bolts 14, 15 which are hydraulically operable and are arranged in pairs on the outside of the guiding tube 4 and supporting ring 12. For purposes of locking the supporting unit to the front end 1, the locking bolts 14, 15 engage recesses 16 of a perforated strip 17 which extends over the entire length of the support 2.

During the laying operation of the bridge section, the supports 2 are pulled in entirely and are held in this position by the locking bolts 15, 14. In this condition, the foot plates are closest below the transverse beam 3. After the bridge section is advanced, the supports 2 are lowered and their foot plates 11 are placed on the ground. To this end, the locking bolts 14, 15 are pulled out of the recesses 16 in the perforated strip 17. These supports 2 now due to their own. weight slide freely downwardly until their foot plates 11 have contact with the underground of the respective obstacle. ln order to make sure that the supports 2 will not drop downwardly in an uncontrolled manner and their foot plates 11 will hit the underground too strongly, the lowering movements of the supports 2 are controlled from the laying vehicle. To this end, each foot plate 11 has connected thereto a cable 18 which is passed to a winding-up roller or drum 19 in the transverse beam. By means of a brake band 20 which is wound partially around the circumference of the roller 19 and which has one end linked to the transverse beam 3 and has its other end linked to a lever 21, the winding off speed of the cable and thereby the lowering movement of the supports 2 are controlled. Lever 21 is connected at its free end to a hydraulic braking cylinder 22. In winding up direction of the cable, the brake band loosely engages the circumference of the roller 19. lt is now possible, as will be described in detail later, for withdrawing the structure to tear loose the foot plate 11 which might have sucked itself into a soft underground. This withdrawal is effected by holding the cable 18 stationary and hydraulically moving the transverse beam 3 upwardly relative to the supports 2.

All hydraulic piston cylinder units arranged within the supporting unit are connected to a hydraulic supply unit 23 in the transverse beam 3 through the intervention of conduits not shown in the drawings. The hydraulic supply unit 23 is mounted in the central portion of the transverse beam 3 between the bridge beams 5 and consist primarily of a hydraulic pump with an electric motor flanged thereon and a plurality of electromagnetic control valves necessary for carrying out the functions of the individual hydraulic cylinder piston units. By means of a cable, not shown in the drawings, the supply unit 23 and the control valves 24 are connected to a command or master device in the laying vehicle from where all functions of the supply unit 23 are controlled. In addition thereto, in the transverse beam 3 there is provided an automatically operating leveling device, for instance a mercury switch, which automatically acts upon the pivot cylinders 9 and during the laying operation holds the supports always vertically regardless of the inclination of the bridge section.

Within the framework of the invention, it is possible to employ this automatically working leveling device which reacts to inclinations of the support in the laying direction, after laying the bridge, for instance by turning the mercury switch by as automatic leveling device for aligning the bridge transverse to the driving direction.

The horizontal aligning of the laid bridge section is effected in conformity with the inclination by upwardly or downwardly moving the transverse beam 3 on the supports by means of devices provided on the transverse beam in the manner of a climbing operation. For purposes of lifting the front end 1, locking bolts 15 engage in one of the recesses 16. The locking bolts 14 are in disengagement with the support 2. Simultaneously, also the cylinder 9 between the transverse beam and the bottom side of the bridge beam 5 are disengaged so that its piston rod can move freely in the cylinder. The supporting ring 12 will in this condition form a counter bearing on which rests the weight of the bridge section. By actuating the supporting cylinder 13 from the laying vehicle in the direction of an outward movement of the piston rod from the cylinder, the transverse beam 3 and thereby the front end 1 are displaced upwardly until the bridge section is aligned in horizontal direction. After the front end 1 has been lifted, the latching bolts 14 are introduced into one of the recesses 16 of the support 2. The supporting unit will then together with the front sections can be laid to the opposite track. The extent to which the bridge can be lifted for alignment purposes is limited by the length by which the piston rod of both supporting cylinders 13 can be moved outwardly.

If for aligning the bridge one working cycle of the supporting cylinders 13 is not sufficient, the latching bolts 15 are withdrawn while the latching bolts I4 are in latching position, and by moving the piston or connecting rods of both supporting cylinders 13 inwardly, the supporting ring 12 is displaced upwardly until it engages the lower edge of the guiding pipe 4. The supporting ring will be locked to the support 2 and after unlocking the supporting pipe, the bridge section is further lifted by moving the lifting cylinder 13 outwardly. This stepwise lifting of the bridge section and the following or post-placing of the supporting ring 12 after completion of the working stroke is repeated until the bridge section is horizontally aligned in driving direction. The lowering of the front end 1 is effected in inverse order as the lifting operation. The four different steps of movements of theclimbing device, namely liftin g, post-setting or servo-setting during the lifting operation, lowering and post-setting or servo-setting during the lowering operation, are preset by the hydraulic servo arrangement of the lifting and latching cylinders and can be triggered by four different electric pulses. The checking of the supporting unit during the laying operation is effected from the laying vehicle through the respective cable. If the laying operation for the entire bridge has been concluded, the checking of the supporting unit is transferred to a stationary supply unit on the bank from which the bridge has been laid, and this is effected by plugging the cable out of the laying vehicle and plugging it in into said supply unit. All functions necessary for aligning the bridge are automatically carried out by the stationary supply unit.

Inasmuch as the bridge support cannot absorb any forces in the longitudinal direction of the bridge, it is necessary to anchor the laid bridge section at the bank. The anchoring of the bridge section at the bank from which the bridge was laid is effected by two anchor.

plates which are connected in conformity with FIG. 4 to the supporting shield 26 of the non-illustrated laying vehicle. At the bottom sides of the anchor plates 25 there are provided exchangeable securing nails 27 which, depending on the condition of the bank ground, may be replaced by other securing nails. The anchor plates 25 are, together with the securing nails 27, pressed into the bank ground by the laying vehicle after the latter has moved to the depositing area. The pressed-in anchor plates on one hand mark the precise depositing area of the bridge end at the side of the bank and on the other hand will secure the laying vehicle against movements resulting from lateral forces which may occur at the bridge supports by the flow of the water. After advancing the bridge section and placing the supports onto the ground, the laying device places the bridge end which is adjacent the bank into special holding means at the top side of the anchor plates 25 and bolts the bridge section down. The connection between the anchor plate 25 and the supporting shield 26 is disconnected and the laying vehicle will be able to receive further bridge sections for connection to those bridge sections which have already been laid.

The foot platesll placed upon the ground of the respective obstacle will in soft and soggy ground suck themselves into the ground in view of the weight of the bridge and the loads rolling thereover. Inasmuch as when taking up the bridge again the bridge supports are likewise taken up, it is necessary to pull the foot plates 11 out of the ground. The tearing loose of the foot plates 11 from the ground of the respective obstacle is effected by means of the cable 18. When tearing loose the foot plates 11 from the ground, the cables are held stationary and the transverse beam 3 is hydraulically lifted relative to the supports 2. Prior to picking up the first laid bridge section from the other bank side, it is necessary to connect the pivotable cylinders 9 to the second bridge end on the same supporting unit because when picking up again bridge end 1, the second bridge end is held on the bank by said cylinders which simultaneously hold the supports in a vertical position.

The individual phases of laying a bridge on supports according to the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 8-13.

On the laying vehicle, the two bridge sections of the bridge portion to be laid are located one above the other. Pivotally'connected to the front end 1 of the lower bridge section is the supporting unit with the supports 2 and the transverse beam 3. With the bridge sections and the supporting unit, the laying vehicle advances to the laying area (FIG. 8). The supply unit 23 in the transverse beam 3 is through the cable 30 connected to the command device in the laying vehicle. After the laying vehicle has been aligned, the supporting shield 26 presses the anchor plates 25 into the ground of the bank. At the same time, the bridge sections arranged one above the other are by a displacement in opposite direction coupled on the laying vehicle as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. After the coupling operation of the bridge sections, the bridge is advanced on the laying device into laying position (FIG. 11). In the laying position, the front end 1 of the bridge portion is downwardly inclined up to the approximate height of the bank, and the supports 2 are, through cable line 18 in view of their own weight, lowered and are placed on the ground with their foot plates 11 while these operations are electrically controlled from the vehicle. By triggering the latching bolts l4, l5 and the supporting cylinder 13, the transverse beam 3 is locked to the supports 2. During the entire laying operation, the hydraulic cylinders 9 are continuously connected to the automatically operating leveling device and thus hold the supports 2 independently of the angle of inclination of the bridge, in a vertical position and furthermore prevent the supports when immersing into the water from being floated off by a current which hits the supports at an angle. After locking the transverse beam 3 to the supports 2, the connection between the supporting shield 26 and the anchor plate 25 is disconnected. The laying vehicle drives back from the bank and thus deposits the bridge end which was adjacent the bank into the holding means 29 of the anchor plates 25. The bridge end at the bank side is bolted to the anchor plates 25 and subsequently the bridge portion is aligned as to height by triggering the hydraulic cylinder 13.

Inasmuch as during the laying operation on the side of the bank, the bridge portion is no longer connected to the bridge feed of the laying device, the bridge portion will be able to move in the direction toward the supports 2. The pivotable cylinders 9 now prevent the bridge supports 2 from buckling in the longitudinal direction of the bridge and even during the laying opera tion hold the supports 2 always in a vertical position.

After the bridge end at the bank side has been locked to the anchor plates 25, the laying vehicle picks up a further bridge unit and rolls the same over the already laid bridge section up to the supporting unit. If the supports 2 in view of the load sink into the ground, the bridge section is immediately corrected as to its alignment by the laying vehicle. When reaching the supporting unit, the bridge sections lying one above the other are coupled to the second bridge portion and are advanced on the laying device into laying position. The second bridge section is deposited on the other bank, and that end of the laying side of the second bridge portion is locked in the same manner as the front end 1 of the first bridge portion, to the transverse beam 3. After completion of the laying operation of the bridge, the vehicle returns to the bank from which the laying started. The cable 30 is removed from the laying vehicle and is transferred to a supply unit on the other bank. The checking of the supporting unit is now effected from the last mentioned stationary supply unit.

In FIGS. 14 to 17, the laying operation of only one bridge half 31 following an already laid bridge section with support is illustrated. In order to be able from the other bank to move onto the bridge without special ramp, the bridge half 31 is with its lower free end deposited on the other bank. As a result thereof, an intermediate member 32 becomes necessary for connecting the bridge half 31 to the advanced end 1 of the laid bridge. The intermediate member 32 is, on the coupling side of the bridge half 31, fastened by suitable means, not illustrated in the drawing. For depositing the intermediate member 32 on the transverse beam 3 of the supporting unit, the intermediate member 32 is within the region of its roadway provided with an extension 33 which is designed for locking to the supporting surface 6 of the transverse beam 3.

After laying the first bridge section, the laying vehicle will pick up from the coupling side the bridge section 31 held ready at the bank and rolls with the bridge half 31 forward up to the supporting unit and lowers the free end of the bridge section 31 onto the other bank. Subsequently, the bridge section 31 is by means of an unfolded extension at the bottom side of the intermediate member 32 deposited upon the first laid bridge. The laying device moves out of the extension. The laying device will then after folding of the extension deposit the bridge half until the intermediate section 32 can be locked to the transverse beam,3 in the manner similar to that in which the bridge end of the first laid bridge was locked. The laying apparatus is detached from the hook of the intermediate member and the laying vehicle rolls over the bridge back to the bank. The checking of the supporting unit is effected as already described through the intervention of the cable 30 from a stationary supply unit at the bank.

The described supporting unit is suitable only for such bridges which are laid in free advance, which means the bridge sections coupled together to form a bridge are from the laying vehicle advanced in the form of free hanging bridge beams. The length of the bridge laid in this manner is limited by the maximum layable bridge weight and the maximum tilting moment which results therefrom and which can be absorbed by the laying vehicle. With present-day bridges, this maximum laying weight is limited to a bridge length of 22 meters. in order to be able to realize a system of bridge on supports as supplement to the built bridge, it was necessary to save the weight requiredfor the supports on the weight of the bridge. Therefore, it was necessary to reduce the length of the built bridge or previous bridge of 22 meters, for instance to 18 meters. The reduction in the total length was effected within the framework of the invention by newly building a bridge half 7 meters length as supplement to the bridge half of 11 meters length available from the known bridge. The known bridge halves of the heretofore obtainable bridge, however, remain structurally unchanged with the exception of the mounting of a receiving part for the supports on the tip of the bridge.

With this laying system, it is possible in addition to the laying of a coupled complete bridge length also to lay individually a bridge half. In this way, it is possible to vary in steps a bridge with the bridge halves from 11 and 7 meter length. To the maximum possible layable length with supports (18 meters) it is possible for instance to build on a bridge of two times 11 meters as bank connection or only one bridge half of 11 or 7 meters.

Within the framework of the present invention, it is, however, also possible instead of the unsymmetric bridge halves of 7 and 11 meters to employ two bridge halves of the same length. To this end, the bridge length of 9 meters each predetermined by the maximum bridge weight is sub-divided. These symmetric bridge halves correspond in construction to the unsymmetric bridge halves and are in the same manner laid from the laying vehicle as the unsymmetric bridge half.

The laying of a bridge with supports in free advance represents only one of the possibilities to overcome larger obstacles. According to a further possibility, the bridge with supports is advanced into laying position by means of a laying device which is telescopically movable outwardly. The laying device is pivotally connected to the laying vehicle and may be itself be supported at its front end on the ground of the obstacle. The supported laying device forms a separate supporting beam for the bridge rolling thereover into laying position. Inasmuch as thus the bridge does not exert a tilting moment upon the laying vehicle, the length of the bridge is not limited by a maximum layable bridge weight. For this reason, with this way of laying a bridge, the available bridge halves of 11 meter length can be employed. It is merely necessary at the bridge ends to provide separate pivot bearings for receiving the bridge supports and several holding means for the control and supply cable as well as the actuating cables. The special design of the supports necessary for this type of laying bridges will be described in connection with FIGS. 20 to 25.

The laying device 34 according to FIGS. 20-25 comprises a plurality of telescopic supports or beams 35-38. The telescopic beams 36-38 are adapted to be pulled by means of cable lines (not illustrated) guided in the stationary telescopic beam 35. The stationary telescopic beam 35 is pivotable about a horizontal axis. All telescopic beams have a substantially box-shaped cross section. For purposes of supporting the movedout laying device 34, there is provided a support 39 which is downwardly pivotally arranged at the bottom side of the telescopic beam 38. In order to make sure that the telescopic beam 38 can be moved completely into the telescopic beam 37, the telescopic beam 38 has its bottom side provided'with a recess 38a into which the support 39 can be pivoted. To the lower end of the support 39 is linked a foot plate 40 which is placed on the ground of the obstacle for support. For purposes of compensating for different supporting heights, the supports 39 is composed of a plurality of supporting pipes which are placed one into the other and are adapted to be telescopically moved out. The downward pivoting of the supporting 39 from the telescopic beam 38 is effected from the laying vehicle by means of a cable line passing over a hydraulic winch. Similarly, also the lowering of the support 39 includingthe placing of the foot plate 40 onto the ground is controlled by a second cable line of the same hydraulic winch, said control being effected from the laying vehicle. The supporting pipes of support 39, which are adapted telescopically to be moved outwardly during the lowering operation, are mechanically arrested relative to each other by a separate pawl system after the foot plate has been placed on the ground. The pawl system, the individual elements of which are not shown in the drawings, comprises a plurality of spring loaded pawls which areprovided within the telescopically outwardly movable supporting pipes. These pawls automatically engage openings of a perforated strip of the next following supporting pipewhich surrounds from the outside the supporting pipes. The inward movement of the supporting pipes is effected by the cable line for the lowering of the support 39. To this end, the lower pair of pawls is first detached from said cable line and after the lower supporting pipe has moved inwardly. The pairs of pawls of the next following supporting pipe etc. are disconnected by means of end abutments.

The supporting unit illustrated in FIGS. l8, 19 is suitable only for such bridges which are laid by means of a telescopically extensible laying device 34. At the front end 41 of the bridge below each bridge beam 42 there is provided a support 43. The upper end of both supports 43 has a convexly arched supporting surface 44 on which the bridge beams rest. In the lateral high webs of the bridge beams 42, the supports 43 are pivotally connected to the front end 41 by means of bolts 45. The further bridge section to be connected to the front end 41 is deposited upon the support 44 and is locked similar to thefront end 41 with the supports locked to the supports 43. v

For purposes of adapting to different supporting heights, the supports 43 are variable as to length. To this end, both supports comprise a plurality, preferably three, supporting pipes 46, 47 and 48 which are placed one within the other in a telescopic manner. The partially or entirely moved out supporting pipe 47 is in response to a relief of the cable automatically locked for forming a rigid support relative to the outer supporting pipe 46. For purposes of holding the central supporting pipes 47 stationary relative to the outer supporting pipe 46, the upper end of the supporting pipe 47 has arranged therein a mechanical locking mechanism 49, and for purposes of arresting the central supporting pipe 47 relative to the lower supporting pipe 43 there is provided a hydraulic locking mechanism 50. The mechanical locking mechanism 49 is formed by two pawls 51 which are interconnected by springs and are directed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support. The two pawls 51 engage openings 52 of a perfo- 14 rated strip 53 which extends over the length of the outer supporting pipe. In contrast thereto, the hydraulic locking mechanism comprises a lifting clyinder 54 which is arrange within the telescopically outwardly movable supporting pipes 47, 48, said cylinder 54 extending in the longitudinal direction of the support. The lifting cylinder 54 has one end linked to the lower supporting pipes, whereas the other end is linked to the central supporting pipes 47. By means of a nonillustrated pressure fluid conduit, the lifting cylinder 54 is connected to a supply unit built into the bridge beam 42. The supply unit provided in the bridge beam 42 corresponds as to its construction substantially to the supply unit of the supporting unit for the free advance. Linked to the lower supporting pipe 48 is a foot plate I 55 by means of which the support is placed upon the by means of cable lines 56 which are respectively connected to a wedge-shaped slide 57 of the mechanical locking means 49 within the supports 43 and over a plurality of deviating rollers are combined to a cable line group and conveyed to the laying vehicle. The two locking bolts 51 are connected to each other by means of two tension springs and engage the wedge-shaped surfaces of the slide 57. By detaching the cable line 56, the locking bolts 51 are by the springs moved into one of the openings 52 of the outer supporting pipe 46. For purposes of unlocking the locking mechanism, the cable line 56 is pulled and against the thrust of the tension springs the slide 57 is moved upwardly while the pawls 51 will at the same time move out of the openings 52. The working movements of the lifting cylinders 54 are controlled through the supply unit in the bridge beam 42 from the vehicle. To this end, the supply units are in the bridge beam connected to the laying vehicle by means of electric cables.

Inasmuch as the bridge rolls into laying position over the telescopically moved-out laying device, it is necessary during this operation to hold the supports above the telescopic beams. To this end, there is provided a second cablev line 58 which is connected to the struts of the supports 43 and is passed to a cable winch on the laying vehicle. The cable winch is coupled to the bridge advance so that also during the forward rolling of the bridge each time such length of the cable line is wound off the winch as the bridge moves on the laying device. When the bridge has reached its laying position, the upwardly held supports are through a cable line 58 pivoted downwardly from the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the cable line 58 is connected to a strut 59 which connects the supports 43 in the upper range. A further strut 60 connects the lower ends of the outer supports 46 to each other. Both struts are detachably linked to the supports and are additionally braced by diagonally extending cables 61. These struts are necessary in order to make sure that lateral forces introduced into the support, which lateral forces originate from lateral inclinations of the bridge,

' from wind and also from water currents, can be absorbed.

plate 55 is effected through the intervention of the cable line 56 which maintains in open position the mechanical locking means 49 between the upper supporting pipe 46 and the intermediate support 47 during the lowering operation until the foot plates rest on the ground. After automatically locking the central supporting pipe 47 to the upper supporting pipe 46, the bridge is aligned as to height from he laying vehicle by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 54. If the length of the outward movement of the central supporting pipe 47 is insufficient for depositing the foot plates 55, both supporting pipes are, after reaching the end abutment between the outer supporting pipe 46 and the intermediate supporting pipe 47, locked by means of the locking bolts 51 and subsequently by actuation of the lifting cylinder 54 from the laying vehicle, the lower supporting pipe 48 is hydraulically moved out of the central supporting pipe 47 until the foot plates 55 are seated on the ground. Subsequently, the laid bridge is aligned as to height by means of the hydraulic cylinders.

The anchoring of the laid bridge to the bank is effected in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 4-7. Since, however, the laying vehicle has no additional supporting shield for absorbing tilting moments from the bridge, the anchor plates are connected to the bridge end on the bank side. After depositing the supports on the ground, the laying vehicle deposits the bridge end adjacent the bank with the anchor plates onto the bank bottom. By moving the laying vehicle onto the loosely deposited bridge, the anchor plate is firmly pressed into the ground of the bank whereby the bridge-is anchored.

The individual phases of the bridge laying are illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. -25.

The two bridge sections of the bridge to be laid are placed one above the other on the telescopically arranged laying device 34 of the laying vehicle. The supporting unit pivotally arranged at the front end 41 by means of the cable line '58 held upwardly above the laying device 34. With the bridge sections and the supporting unit, the laying vehicle moves forwardly up to the laying area (FIG. 20). The telescopic beams 36-38 of the laying device 34 are pulled outwardly completely, and the support 39 at the front end of the telescopic beam 38 is pivoted downwardly, (FIG. 21). After lowering the support 39 and placing the foot plate 40 on the ground of the obstacle, the bridge sections coupled to the bridge roll over the laying device into laying position (FIGS. 22 and 23). In the laying position, the supports 43 are lowered downwardly and with the foot plates 55 are placed on the ground. Subsequently, the supports 39 are unlocked, lifted, and pivoted into the recess at the bottom side of the telescopic beam 38, and the telescopic beam 36-38 are moved inwardly into the stationary telescopic beam 35 of the laying device 34 (FIG. 24). The laying vehicle moves back and deposits the bridge end at the bank side with the anchor plates onto the bottom of the bank. After the laying device 34 has been pulled out from the bridge end on the bank side and after the anchor plates have been pressed into the bottom of the bank, the vehicles can move onto and over the laid bridge and a further bridge portion can be laid.

The aligning of the supports 43 during the bridge laying operation and after the supports have been anchored on the bank is effected in a manner correspondingly to the bridge laying in free advance.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said supports are formed by simple supporting pipes operatively connected, and which includes guiding pipes for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam.

3. A device according to claim 1, which includes supporting shield means pivotally connected to the front side of the laying vehicle, and which also includes two anchor plates connected to said shield means, said anchor plates including a top side and outwardly protruding securing nails, said securing nails being easily exchangeably connected to said anchor plates, the top side of said anchor plates being provided with means for connection to the bridge end at the bank to which the bridge is to be anchored.

4. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, an intermediate member for connecting one bridge half only to the advanced end of a finish-laid bridge, said intermediate member being connected to the coupling side of the bridge half, said intermediate member being provided with a protrusion, and in which the front end of the bridge below the bridge roadway is provided with a transverse beam having a supporting surface, said protrusion being adapted to rest on said supporting surface, locking means being provided on said supporting surface.

5. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are 17 adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to e be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, foot plates pivotally connected to said supports, cable means connected to said foot plates outside their pivotal connection with said supports, and winding-up roller means arranged on said transverse beam for selectively winding up said cable means.

6. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports having operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, said supports being formed by simple supporting pipes, and guiding pipes operatively connected for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam, supporting ring means respectively surrounding'one support each in spaced relationship thereto and axially below said guiding pipe.

7. A device according to claim 6, which includes hydraulic cylinder means, and in which said supporting ring means is coupled to said guiding pipe through said hydraulic lifting cylinder means.

8. A bridge laying-device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said brige beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said trans. verse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, said supports being formed by simple supporting pipes, and guiding pipes operatively connected for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam, a separate device for selectively lifting and lowering in a climbing manner the front bridge end on said supporting pipes when the latter ening the advanced bridge, and

means for arresting said last mentioned dev ce relative to said support.

9. A device according to claim 8, in which said separate device includes .locking bolts respectively which are hydraulically operable and are located on the outside bolt on said guiding pipe and also on supporting ring means respectively and which includes strip means extending over the entire length of said supports and provided with recesses for receiving said locking bolts.

10. A device according to claim 9, in which the movements of said locking bolts are so coupled that in response to the lifting of the front bridge end the locking bolts of the supporting ring means respectively engage one of the recesses of the supports and the locking bolts of the guiding pipe respectively disengage said supports.

11. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge means forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams,

and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, pivotable cylinder means pivotally connected to the bottom side of said transverse beam and to the bottom side of said bridge beams for additionally bracing the transverse beam to the front end of said bridge, and an automatically operable levelling device, said pivotable cylinder means being connected to said levelling device for vertically aligning said supports during the placing of the bridge.

12. A device according to claim 11, in which said levelling device includes means for horizontally aligning said bridge roadway.

13. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, a hydraulic supply unit and also lifting cylinder means adapted to be supplied with operating fluid from said supply unit, said lifting cylinder means being arranged within the region of the supporting unit formed by said supports and said transverse beam.

14. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by rneans of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, a telescopically extensible laying device extensible in the direction in which the bridge is advanced, the front telescopic beam of said last mentioned laying device being equipped with supporting means pivotable downwardly and adapted to be placed upon the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, said supporting means in pivoted out position being telescopically movable outwardly, and arresting means for arresting said supporting means when being placed onto the ground.

15. A device according to claim 14, which includes pawl means operable to arrest the outwardly movable portion of said supporting means, strip means provided with openings and extending over the length of said supporting means pertaining to said telescopic laying device, and in which said pawl means includes a plurality of spring-urged pawls operable automatically to engage said openings.

16. A device according to claim 14, which includes supports at the front end of the bridge below said bridge beams, said last mentioned supports being pivotable downwardly, said supports including a plurality of supporting pipes telescopically arranged one within the other, the uppermost supporting pipe of said supporting pipes telescopically placed one within the other being provided with supporting surface means for the front bridge end and the adjacent further bridge portion, said supporting surface means together with said supports being detachably connected to the bridge.

17. A device according to claim 16, in which said supports include three supporting pipes telescopically arranged one within the other, and which comprises a mechanical locking system for locking the outermost supporting pipe to said intermediate supporting pipe, and also includes a hydraulic locking system for locking said intermediate supporting pipe to said innermost supporting pipe.

18. A device according to claim 17, which includes a strip provided with openings and extending over the length of said outennost supporting pipe, and in which said mechanical locking system comprises two pawls arranged at the upper end of said intermediate supporting pipe in upright position of the latter, said pawls being adapted to engage said openings of said last mentioned strip.

19. A device according to claim 18, which includes cable means and winch means for cooperation with said cable means and operable from said vehicle, and in which said outermost supporting pipe is provided with openings adapted to be engaged by said pawls for locking said outwardly moved intermediate supporting pipe.

20. A device according to claim 16, which includes fluid operable locking means operable to lock said supporting pipes, said fluid operable locking means comprising a lifting cylinder arranged within said intermediate and said innermost supporting pipes, conduit means and a supply unit for supplying fluid through said conduit means to said lifting cylinder. 

1. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which said supports are formed by simple supporting pipes operatively connected, and which includes guiding pipes for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam.
 3. A device according to claim 1, which includes supporting shield means pivotally connected to the front side of the laying vehicle, and which also includes two anchor plates connected to said shield means, said anchor plates including a top side and outwardly protruding securing nails, said securing nails being easily exchangeably connected to said anchor plates, the top side of said anchor plates being provided with means for connection to the bridge end at the bank to which the bridge is to be anchored.
 4. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports togetHer with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, an intermediate member for connecting one bridge half only to the advanced end of a finish-laid bridge, said intermediate member being connected to the coupling side of the bridge half, said intermediate member being provided with a protrusion, and in which the front end of the bridge below the bridge roadway is provided with a transverse beam having a supporting surface, said protrusion being adapted to rest on said supporting surface, locking means being provided on said supporting surface.
 5. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, foot plates pivotally connected to said supports, cable means connected to said foot plates outside their pivotal connection with said supports, and winding-up roller means arranged on said transverse beam for selectively winding up said cable means.
 6. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports having operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, said supports being formed by simple supporting pipes, and guiding pipes operatively connected for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam, supporting ring means respectively surrounding one support each in spaced relationship thereto and axially below said guiding pipe.
 7. A device according to claim 6, which includes hydraulic cylinder means, and in which said supporting ring means is coupled to said guiding pipe through said hydraulic lifting cylinder means.
 8. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said brige beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, said supports being formed by simple supporting pipes, and guiding pipes operatively connected for guiding said supporting pipes, said guiding pipes being operatively mounted at said transverse beam, a separate device for selectively lifting and lowering in a climbing manner the front bridge end on said supporting pipes when the latter engage the bottom of the obstacle to be bridged for aligning the advanced bridge, and means for arresting said last mentioned dev ce relative to said support.
 9. A device according to claim 8, in which said separate device includes locking bolts respectively which are hydraulically operable and are located on the outside bolt on said guiding pipe and also on supporting ring means respectively and which includes strip means extending over the entire length of said supports and provided with recesses for receiving said locking bolts.
 10. A device according to claim 9, in which the movements of said locking bolts are so coupled that in response to the lifting of the front bridge end the locking bolts of the supporting ring means respectively engage one of the recesses of the supports and the locking bolts of the guiding pipe respectively disengage said supports.
 11. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge means forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, pivotable cylinder means pivotally connected to the bottom side of said transverse beam and to the bottom side of said bridge beams for additionally bracing the transverse beam to the front end of said bridge, and an automatically operable levelling device, said pivotable cylinder means being connected to said levelling device for vertically aligning said supports during the placing of the bridge.
 12. A device according to claim 11, in which said levelling device includes means for horizontally aligning said bridge roadway.
 13. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can be advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adjacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, a hydraulic supply unit and also lifting cylinder means adapted to be supplied with operating fluid from said supply unit, said lifting cylinder means being arranged within the region of the supporting unit formed by said supports and said transverse beam.
 14. A bridge laying device which comprises: a vehicle, a bridge having a plurality of bridge sections, a laying device by means of which the bridge can e advanced and deposited into its position of use, said bridge having its front end provided with supports which are adapted to be placed on the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, bridge beams forming roadways, said supports being mounted at the front end of said bridge on the outside adJacent said bridge beams, and a transverse beam operatively connected for supporting additional bridge sections independently of said bridge, said transverse beam being linked to the front end of said bridge below said roadways, said supports being operatively mounted on said transverse beam, said supports together with said transverse beam forming a structural unit detachably connected to said bridge, a telescopically extensible laying device extensible in the direction in which the bridge is advanced, the front telescopic beam of said last mentioned laying device being equipped with supporting means pivotable downwardly and adapted to be placed upon the ground of the obstacle to be bridged, said supporting means in pivoted out position being telescopically movable outwardly, and arresting means for arresting said supporting means when being placed onto the ground.
 15. A device according to claim 14, which includes pawl means operable to arrest the outwardly movable portion of said supporting means, strip means provided with openings and extending over the length of said supporting means pertaining to said telescopic laying device, and in which said pawl means includes a plurality of spring-urged pawls operable automatically to engage said openings.
 16. A device according to claim 14, which includes supports at the front end of the bridge below said bridge beams, said last mentioned supports being pivotable downwardly, said supports including a plurality of supporting pipes telescopically arranged one within the other, the uppermost supporting pipe of said supporting pipes telescopically placed one within the other being provided with supporting surface means for the front bridge end and the adjacent further bridge portion, said supporting surface means together with said supports being detachably connected to the bridge.
 17. A device according to claim 16, in which said supports include three supporting pipes telescopically arranged one within the other, and which comprises a mechanical locking system for locking the outermost supporting pipe to said intermediate supporting pipe, and also includes a hydraulic locking system for locking said intermediate supporting pipe to said innermost supporting pipe.
 18. A device according to claim 17, which includes a strip provided with openings and extending over the length of said outermost supporting pipe, and in which said mechanical locking system comprises two pawls arranged at the upper end of said intermediate supporting pipe in upright position of the latter, said pawls being adapted to engage said openings of said last mentioned strip.
 19. A device according to claim 18, which includes cable means and winch means for cooperation with said cable means and operable from said vehicle, and in which said outermost supporting pipe is provided with openings adapted to be engaged by said pawls for locking said outwardly moved intermediate supporting pipe.
 20. A device according to claim 16, which includes fluid operable locking means operable to lock said supporting pipes, said fluid operable locking means comprising a lifting cylinder arranged within said intermediate and said innermost supporting pipes, conduit means and a supply unit for supplying fluid through said conduit means to said lifting cylinder. 